Chapter 1. An unexpected visitor

"Kill the spare". A swishing noise followed and a second voice, which screeched the words to the night "Avada Kedavra". A blast of green light blazed through Harry's eyelids, and he heard something heavy fall to the ground beside him, the pain in his scar reached such a pitch that he retched, and then it diminished, terrified of what he was about to see, he opened his stinging eyes.

Cedric was lying spread-eagled on the ground beside him.

Next he saw Wormtail becoming a rat, and escaping into the darkness. Harry felt a fresh wave of anger at that man who had put all his friends into danger resulting in the death of Harry's parents and Sirius being labelled as a murderer besides murdering twelve innocent people while faking his own death. As the scene advanced Lupin transformed into a werewolf and bounded into the forest, followed by a transformed Sirius. The scene slowly faded away as the Grim disappeared into the distance.

Next Harry found himself in a room. He heard load swishing voices and looked downwards. Kingsley, Tonks, Lupin, Moody … Sirius were battling with a bunch of death-eaters. "The Department of Mysteries", thought Harry. Kingsley was warding off two death-eaters, Lucius Malfoy and Avery. Harry turned to look towards his Godfather. Sirius was battling with Bellatrix. He ducked to avoid a red spurt of light from Bellatrix's wand.

'Come on, you can do better than that!' he yelled, his voice echoing around the huge room. The second jet of light hit him squarely on the chest. The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened in shock. Harry watched in horror as Sirius leaned backwards and fell windswept, into the veil.

"NO". Harry woke up with a jerk, feeling very cold and stiff, with his scar thudding against his head. Blinking, he put on his glasses and looked around shaking profusely. It, suddenly dawned on him that he was covered with sweat and his left hand was on his scar.

"Curse me! Cedric, Sirius, my parents dead thanks to my stupidity", thought Harry miserably.

"Really", countered another voice in his head. "Crying over spilt potion, aren't you?"

"I couldn't save them", argued Harry. "I led them to their death".

"You didn't want to kill them, why couldn't you save them?", argued the voice.

Harry retorted, "I didn't know what to do. I was helpless".

"Exactly, you never knew because you never took your schooling seriously, you are too smart to study, huh?".

Harry countered, "NO, I never knew about the prophecy, no one told me that Voldemort could read my mind".

"But you knew Voldemort was after you, didn't you?, forgotten your past experiences so soon?", said the voice mockingly.

"Damn that stupid prophecy". "Oh, the prophecy governs your life Potter, besides you do have many friends who love you, don't you?. Face It"

"It is due to me that he was reborn", Harry said aloud.

"Well, your blood was not a compulsion. Since you effected his rebirth, isn't it proper that you strive to bring about his end".

Harry now felt sick. He had never really bothered about his studies. True, Sirius was his past, his parents … he had never known them. Shifting his thoughts, he had Lupin to whom he had taken a liking, Hermione and Ron who were his best friends, the Weasleys, his other friends at Hogwarts, Tonks, Moody, Dumbledore and the other Members of the Order. It was useless to cry over the past, the dead could not be revived, it was his future and on his future, the future of the wizarding world was at stake, too.

Harry decided, that it was time he got more serious about his schooling, the time to prove himself had neared. "Voldemort will pay, I will not let him touch any of my friends, He has to be done for once and for all".

Looking furiously around him, his eyes fell upon the result of the 5th year exams conducted at Hogwarts. It read

Transfiguration - Outstanding

Charms - Exceeds Expectations

Herbology - Exceeds Expectations

Defense against the Dark Arts - OutStanding + 1 bonus

Care of Magical Creatures - Outstanding

History Of Magic - Acceptable

Astronomy - Acceptable

Divination - Poor

Potions - Outstanding

Total - 10 O.W.L.

"Well, Good-Bye Trelawney", smiled Harry.

"I will do much better in future" Harry looked resolute.

"Neither Ron nor Hermione have written to me all summer, wonder why?" Harry thought aloud, as he picked up his latest copy of the Daily Prophet, which had arrived by owl post some days back. The Daily Prophet was one of the newspapers published by the wizarding world. His thoughts were interrupted by a soft hooting from above his head, Hedwig. "Uh-oh, morning Hedwig, you must be hungry. I'll get you something". So saying Harry scooted off his bed, towards the kitchen.

Once in the living room, Harry surveyed the scene in front of his eyes. Uncle Vernon was seated in a sofa reading a paper, Dudley wasn't around, "Probably, troubling some innocent kid with his goons", snorted Harry, some murmuring was heard from the kitchen, mostly Aunt Petunia grumbling about someone, "Possibly me", wondered Harry.

"Hello, Uncle Vernon", Harry greeted his uncle sweetly, getting a glare in return after which his uncle decided to read the paper. Harry somehow managed to suppress a grin, which was starting to creep up on his face. The Moody factor was probably still very effective.

At the end of the previous year, Tonks, Moody, Lupin and Mr. Weasley had had a chat with Harry's uncle near the London Railway Station before seeing him off. In the ensuing conversation, Moody's eerie display of his magical eye and an accompanying warning had his uncle think twice about Harry. Harry had returned the favor by sending a letter to the Order once every week (he had them agree on it first), stating that he was out of trouble.

The last time Uncle Vernon had yelled at him, Harry had simply rotated his eyes, mimicking Moody and the message had gone through. Since, then his relatives would keep a reasonable distance from him. Since then he never had much trouble as such from the Dursleys.

Remembering Hedwig, Harry marched to the kitchen, greeted his aunt, grabbed some food for him and his owl, savored the look on her face and trooped back to his cupboard, apparently satisfied. Entering his cupboard Harry let Hedwig out of her cage grinning savagely, "How about the two of us having a trip down". On second thoughts he decided against it, "There is always another day". Hedwig fluttered her wings and sat down on Harry's bed, starting her breakfast.

Meanwhile, Harry had drifted off into a nap. He was having quite a time as he remembered how he and Hermione had rescued his Godfather from the clutches of the Ministry, saving Ginny from the Basilisk, Winning the first game of Quidditch, A Dead Cedric … .Harry had had enough but he couldn't wake up. The dreams continued, causing too much pain, his scar was now prickling, Sirius falling through the veil … Bellatrix laughing … the ensuing fight between Dumbledore and Voldemort … Voldemort standing over three dead Dursleys.

His scar now burned fiercely, waking Harry from his trance. "This couldn't be, I've just seen them down, I WONT LET THEM DIE", thought Harry fiercely. Hedwig sensing something was wrong, flew onto Harry's shoulder. In a split second Harry had grabbed his wand and rushed down, with one hand rubbing his forehead, to the living room. He ran down the creaking stairs taking three at a time. Once in the living room, he paused to get his breath.

Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia were standing in front, eyeing him, both looking stumped, Dudley Dursley was sitting on the sofa, now looking away from the TV, at him.

"What do we have here?" growled Uncle Vernon, regaining his senses (as if he had any). "Did you think we are DEAF?". Dudley snorted, "Dad probably he's waiting for 'Cedric'". If Harry looked surprised, he didn't show it, he had always been sure that Dudley had an I.Q. worse than a pig, besides, he could smell trouble coming. He replied, "No, I – I stumbled on the stairs, while coming down", in a smallest possible voice. His uncle looked ready to strangle him. "Sorry, I scared you", said Harry in what he thought was a piteous tone, hoping this would be done over with. Dudley having noticed Harry's wand exactly at this inopportune moment, spluttered, "Dad - DAD, he's got that … YOU KNOW WHAT … in his hand".

"Ah, trying to sneak away, aren't you, Well, WHAT ARE YOU UP TO? ANSWER ME QUICK", bellowed Uncle Vernon, his eyes bulging. "WHAT DOES THAT IMPLY?", "SPEAK UP NOW". A short pause occurred.

"He shut up quickly enough, surprising!" thought Harry. Looking up he found Aunt Petunia looking at his uncle, whose lips seemed to have sealed themselves, "Interesting", thought Harry. "Is it about Voldemort?" snapped his Aunt. Now it was a bewildered Harry looking at his Aunt, his mouth seemed to have been stuffed. She seemed to have noticed since she continued, "Having nightmares again, aren't you?" Dumbly, Harry nodded in the affirmative. "Tell me". Unable to meet her eyes, Harry related the nightmare looking down at the floor. "SO THAT'S YOUR ..." Aunt Petunia silenced her husband with another look. Harry unsure of what could be coming next simply stared at the floor. His scar had begun to itch too.

"You know about the Ancient charm put on this house, don't you?"

A thunderstruck Harry nodded dumbly, "How the hell does she know about the charm, possibly Dumbledore told … Of course, the howler …

"As long as you are in this house no one can hurt you" and so Aunt Petunia launched into a long lecture. Harry did not take a word though he was reminded of "Professor Binns". Professor Binns was the teacher who taught History of Magic at Hogwarts and was a ghost.

"So we are stuck with you, GOT IT?"

Harry, shaken out of his reverie, immediately launched into a flurry of questions.

"How do you know ..." started Harry.

"Be Quiet".

"When did Dumbledore ..."

"Silence", snapped his Aunt again.

"The nightmare seemed too real"

"NO IT IS NOT AND WILL NEVER BE, NOW KEEP YOUR DIRTY HAND ON THE FLOOR AND SHUT UP", roared Vernon Dursley, having found his voice.

"Don't get your hopes up, Dursley?"

All the Dursleys froze to the floor. "Yet another nightmare" so hoping Harry turned around, red hot pain seared through his scar, just as Voldemort became visible, temporarily de-mobilizing him and he stumbled onto the ground, one hand on the floor, with his wand and the other on his scar.

Note: In case you find this story interesting (or disinteresting), click the submit review button down, tell me how this chapter was and believe me the next chapter will be on its way.

In short PLEEEEEEASE REVIEW (and recommend it to others too).

Modified

1. Added Charms to Harry's result (courtesy reviewer Mudblood-Bane)